Articles by Date : July 01 2007 - July 31 2007

Hilton's £10b acquistion 'on track'
Hilton Hotels Corporation today said its £10b acquisition by private equity firm Blackstone was “on track” as it unveiled a 15% rise in profit for.... more
(31 July 2007 16:25)

Investment now paying off, says Macdonald Hotels boss
The resurgence of Macdonald Hotels has continued apace with steady growth at the group and a significant reduction in debt. more
(31 July 2007 15:02)

Hospitality businesses in Scotland to be checked for short measures
Pubs, hotels and restaurants across Scotland are to be inspected by Trading Standards to ensure customers are not being served short measures. more
(31 July 2007 12:00)

Subway opens 1,000th outlet and aims to overhaul McDonald’s by 2009
Sandwich chain Subway opened its 1,000 UK and Ireland store last week and said it would be the largest fast-food outlet by number of stores in the.... more
(31 July 2007 11:30)

Only 13 people caught smoking in London since ban
Only 13 people have been caught lighting up illegally in London since the smoking ban came into force on 1 July, according to initial figures from.... more
(31 July 2007 10:43)

Hotelier of the Year 2007 - deadline nears
The closing date for this year’s Caterer and Hotelkeeper Hotelier of the Year award is now upon us. more
(31 July 2007 10:13)

Management team for Sofitel London Heathrow revealed
Caterersearch can exclusively reveal the senior management team launching Arora International Hotels’ flagship Sofitel property at London Heathrow’s.... more
(31 July 2007 08:00)

Independent hoteliers need to improve online presence
Independent hoteliers must improve their online marketing efforts, particularly for mini breaks, or face a continued loss of business to larger.... more
(31 July 2007 07:00)

Mark Hix quits as chef director of Ivy owner Caprice Holdings
Mark Hix, chef director of Caprice Holdings, the owner of London restaurants the Ivy, Le Caprice and Scott’s, has resigned after 17 years with the.... more
(30 July 2007 17:31)

Chef Stephen Wheeler joins Hilton Manchester Deansgate
Stephen Wheeler, former executive chef at the new Wembley Stadium in London, has joined the Hilton Manchester Deansgate hotel as executive chef. more
(30 July 2007 16:00)

Gleneagles strengthens management team as new restaurant opens
Scotland’s luxury hotel and resort Gleneagles has boosted its food and beverage and front of house teams with three senior appointments. more
(30 July 2007 15:20)

Mayor of London launches Skills for Food scheme
The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has launched a catering and hospitality training initiative for west London residents in preparation for the 2012.... more
(30 July 2007 14:39)

Coffee Republic losses widen as firm moves further along the franchising path
Losses have piled up at Coffee Republic as the company continues its transformation to a franchising model. more
(30 July 2007 13:07)

What’s on the menu? - A round-up of the latest restaurant reviews
A round-up of the latest restaurant reviews including: La Bécasse, Ludlow; The Frontline, London; La Petite Maison; Itihaas, Birmingham; Trattoria.... more
(30 July 2007 12:16)

IHG to open ninth Indigo Hotel and other international hotel news
Essential news from around the world, including: Hilton Rabat in Morocco sold for $89m; Life Resorts opens training hotel in Vietnam; Starwood to.... more
(30 July 2007 12:00)

Hospitality businesses still wait for water to be reconnected
Hospitality businesses in flood affected parts of England are still waiting for water supplies to be reconnected so they can re-open for business. more
(30 July 2007 11:11)

Chain hotels threatening existence of independents - For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say
A round-up of the weekend's news affecting the hospitality industry. News includes: Wetherspoon report surge in demand for pub food; Flooded hotels.... more
(30 July 2007 10:59)

RBS to sell Hilton portfolio for £1.1b
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) is reportedly poised to sell a £1.1b portfolio of mainly Hilton hotels to investor Jeremy Robson. more
(30 July 2007 10:49)

Former Burger King employees head to the High Court for compensation
Four long serving staff made redundant by fast food chain Burger King have mounted a David and Goliath High Court fight for massive compensation from.... more
(28 July 2007 07:00)

BHA welcomes government tax help for flood victims
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has welcomed a government pledge to provide tax help to those affected by floods but says more still needs.... more
(27 July 2007 16:50)

WinePress restaurant latest victim of flooding
The sister restaurant to the two-Michelin starred Vineyard at Stockcross has been forced to close its doors for six weeks due to extensive flooding. more
(27 July 2007 16:09)

Barracuda adds two sites to portfolio
Pub group Barracuda has added to its estate of more than 200 pubs with the opening of two sites this week in Lancashire and Cambridgeshire. more
(27 July 2007 12:34)

Bad weather does not dampen UK hotel market
The UK hotel market has not been dampened by the continuous wet weather, according to latest figures from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. more
(27 July 2007 11:28)

UK tourism gets a £1.8b boost from film industry
The UK film industry contributed £1.8b to UK tourism last year as holidaymakers flocked to destinations featured on the big screen, according to.... more
(27 July 2007 07:00)

Union calls on Domino’s boss to intervene in foreign worker sacking row
Union leaders have called on Domino’s Pizza boss Stephen Hemsley to intervene over the sacking of 12 Hungarian workers at its Derby branch. more
(26 July 2007 16:30)

Brewers send in tankers with drinking water to England flood victims
Brewers have sent in excess of 600,000 litres of drinking water in beer tankers to the parts of central England stricken by flooding. more
(26 July 2007 14:48)

Health club operator buys hotel next door in Sussex
Bannatynes Hotels – part of the Bannatynes Health and Fitness group – has bought the Beauport Park country house hotel in East Sussex off an asking.... more
(26 July 2007 14:46)

Brighton buyer for rare licensed restaurant-bar in Leeds
A Brighton-based multi-unit operator has snapped up the leasehold on the Citrus Café - one of the last independently-owned licensed premises in.... more
(26 July 2007 14:43)

Backpacker hostel operator buys Hammersmith pub
Interpub, which operates 14 backpacker hostels in the UK and Europe, has bought a brand new lease on the former George pub in London’s Hammersmith.... more
(26 July 2007 14:41)

Lifestyle Hotels buys country hotel in Yorkshire Moors
The Ox Pasture Hall country hotel near Scarborough has been sold off a guide price of £1.7m to Lifestyle Hotels, a company set up to develop luxury.... more
(26 July 2007 14:38)

Enterprise Inns buys food-led Essex freehouse
National pub operator Enterprise Inns has bought the Red Lion freehouse in the North-east Essex village of Thorrington. more
(26 July 2007 14:35)

New owners for 'Top 10' seaside hotel in Yorkshire
Yorkshire’s Downcliffe House hotel – one of the Independent newspaper’s Top 10 seaside hotels – has been sold. more
(26 July 2007 14:33)

Suffolk bar-restaurant changes hands
A couple from West London have snapped up Castle’s bar and restaurant in the historic Suffolk market town of Bungay in the River Waveney valley. more
(26 July 2007 14:30)

Le Manoir managers to open London eaterie
Two senior managers from Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, are to launch a new restaurant just off London's.... more
(26 July 2007 13:42)

Former Orient-Express executive returns to company to take top role
In a dramatic U-turn, Paul White, who resigned from his role as chief financial officer at Orient-Express Hotels in May, has returned to the company.... more
(26 July 2007 13:30)

Sodexho wins 'commercially unviable' Richmond school meals contract
Sodexho has won the Richmond school meals contract that rival Compass Group dumped last month after claiming a lack of investment had made the.... more
(26 July 2007 13:00)

Revpar drops by 10% at London hotels
London hotels saw revenue per available room (revpar) drop by 10.2% in the week ending 22 July, according to figures from hotel benchmarking service.... more
(26 July 2007 12:30)

Businesses forced to close in England's flooded heartland
Heston Blumenthal was among the hospitality operators hit by the heavy flooding that has continued to keep large parts of southern England.... more
(26 July 2007 12:00)

Hospitality industry calls for tax moratorium
The Government has been urged to give hospitality businesses hit by the flooding a six-month moratorium on national insurance and VAT payments. more
(26 July 2007 11:30)

The Bench: London weekly hotel performance to 22 July, 2007
London hotels saw revenue per available room (revpar) drop by 10.2% in the week ending 22 July, according to figures from hotel benchmarking service.... more
(26 July 2007 10:41)

The Bench: London airport hotel performance in April 2007
London airport hotels saw revenue per available room (revpar) drop by 16.4% during the month of April. more
(26 July 2007 10:36)

Ignore crime hysteria, says pub industry
Pub industry leaders have launched a strong defence of the sector after critics blamed the extension of licensing hours for a rise in alcohol-related.... more
(26 July 2007 10:30)

Chase Terrace Technology College invites tenders
Chase Terrace Technology College in Burtonwood, Staffordshire is now inviting tenders for the provision of catering services at the site from 2008. more
(26 July 2007 09:56)

Restaurants face a raw fish crackdown
Restaurants serving sushi and carpaccio-style dishes could be breaking European Union law and run the risk of failing health and safety inspections,.... more
(26 July 2007 09:00)

Win £1,000-worth of Meyer cookware
The winner of this month's competition will have their pick of the full range of Meyer commercial cookware, including products incorporating the.... more
(26 July 2007 08:30)

Pantheon grill prices reduced
Pantheon Catering Equipment has reduced the price of its range of plug-in contact grills aimed at small to medium-size catering operations which want.... more
(26 July 2007 08:05)

Free or reduced hygiene wipes dispensers
The Hygiene Company has introduced a range of hand and surface antibacterial wipes dispensed from a Wipepod holding 500 to 1,000 wipes. more
(26 July 2007 08:04)

Free glasses or cutlery from Villeroy & Boch
Villeroy & Boch customers ordering china or cutlery can receive free La Divina glassware or free Piemont, Oscar or Victor 18/10 cutlery until 31.... more
(26 July 2007 08:03)

Cut-price deal on Global knives from Brakes
Brakes Catering Equipment is offering a seven-piece set of stainless-steel Global knives for £199 while stocks last. more
(26 July 2007 08:02)

Buy one Pacojet, get one cheaper
The Pacojet machine was at first largely associated with desserts such as ice-cream and sorbets, but chefs are now using it to develop savoury dishes.... more
(26 July 2007 08:01)